Going Long (again) in 2024

Toronto 5K

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Location:

Garson - Sudbury,ON,Canada

Member Since:

Apr 20, 2013

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I ran my first marathon in 1998: "The Friendly Marathon" in Massey, Ontario.  I was 32. I had never raced in a shorter event, and I trained really poorly - ended up running it in 4:00:30.  After that, I gave up running for the most part for 6 years.  I got into karate a bit more seriously, until I got my knee kicked out and had ACL surgery.  Then I became a 'fair weather runner' and started to run half marathons every so often.  As a priest, entering weekend races always meant having to book a holiday, so it just didn't happen much.  My holidays were primarily focussed on various canoe and kayak trips.

At some point, I started training more consistently, and started to think of myself as a runner.  I guess doing that in your 40's is better than never doing it at all.  I even started to wonder if I had it in me to qualify for Boston.  Well, I did.  First time didn't count, I suppose, since I didn't make the "cut".  But the second time was a charm, and on my sixth Marathon, run in Chicago in 2015, I beat my BQ by almost 6 minutes.  And now, running a BQ is routine for me, not that I have any desire to run Boston again.

Through it all, I've made tons of mistakes - and have had lots of injuries to show for it.  Hopefully, now that I'm in my late 50's, I'm a bit wiser and can use that to my advantage to continue running for a very long time.

My PRs:

5k (12 run):      Guelph, ON.     October 10, 2016   (50 yrs.)   20:10

10k (10 run):    Collingwood      October 5, 2013  (47 yrs.)  43:37

Half Marathon  (25 run): Cleveland   May 18, 2014  (48 yrs)  1:33:08

Marathon (12 run):  Ste-Jerome, QC  October 3, 2021   (55 yrs.)  3:22:10

Ultras (5 run):   

Run for the Toad 50k Trail   September 30, 2017 (51 yrs.)  5:31:23

Niagara Falls 100k   June 17, 2018 (52 yrs.)  12:26:30

That Dam Hill 24 hours   September 15-16, 2018  Completed 100 Miles in 23:20:44

Sulphur Springs 50 mile Trail   May 25, 2019  10:37:27

Haliburton Forest 100 mile Trail   September 7-8, 2019  26:46:27

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Pacing my sister in her 1st Half Marathon.

Short-Term Running Goals:

After a broken right foot in 2022 in the later stages of a marathon training cycle, then adjusting to a 1/2" heal lift in my right shoe to compensate for a leg length discrepancy, and then a left plank plate rupture in the late summer of 2023, I had to decide:  go fast or go long.  I opted for long, for this year at least.

May 2024:  Sulphur Springs 50 Mile Trail (revisiting it after 5 years)

July 2024:  Limberlost 54KM Trail

September 2024:  Haliburton 100 Mile Trail (also revisiting it after 5 years).

Everything this year is really focussed on the Haliburton 100 as my key event.  After that, and depending on how things go, I'll reevaluate.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run until this old body of mine won't let me run any more.  I was inspired in the Spring of 2016, watching the start of the Ottawa Marathon.  Near the back of the pack was an 'old man', running with his walker.  I loved it!  I thought ... there's me in 20 years.  Maybe.  

Personal:

I am a Roman Catholic priest of 30 years, ministering in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.  I spent 8 years ministering in the small town of Wawa (where I helped establish the annual Blackfly Run) and 9 years in Sault Ste. Marie.  I have been in the Sudbury region now for 13 years.  Currently I Pastor 2 small Parishes:  St. John the Evangelist in Garson, and St. Bernardine of Siena in Skead, covering the area just Northeast of the city, surrounding the Sudbury Airport.

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Miles:This week: 28.00 Month: 189.50 Year: 588.50
Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2 Lifetime Miles: 412.40
Brooks Cascadia 11 Lifetime Miles: 302.00
Salomon Speedcross 4 Lifetime Miles: 160.25
Brooks Launch 8 Lifetime Miles: 153.00
Asics Metaspeed Sky Lifetime Miles: 32.20
Brooks Ghost 13 Lifetime Miles: 358.50
Saucony Triumph 18 Lifetime Miles: 372.50
Ghost 13 Blue Sole Lifetime Miles: 363.00
Hoka Bondi Lifetime Miles: 386.00
Triumph 18 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 120.50
Hoka Bondi 8 Treadmill Lifetime Miles: 102.50
Total Distance
43.00
Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 7.00Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 20.00Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 11.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 160.75
Total Distance
7.00

Another heavy fog morning.  Easy run at a pace of 8:23.

Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 7.00
Weight: 158.50
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Total Distance
12.00

Easy pace today; 8:32/mile.

Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 12.00
Weight: 159.50
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Total Distance
5.00

Super easy pace; 8:50/mile.  Since I'm running a 5k race on Saturday, I figured I'd skip my regular rest day and take it on Friday instead.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 160.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Easy run; 8:17 pace.

Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 8.00
Weight: 159.00
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Total Distance
6.00

Easy run in a light rain; 8:33 pace.

Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 6.00
Weight: 158.50
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Race: Toronto 5K (3.107 Miles) 00:20:55, Place overall: 9, Place in age division: 1
Total Distance
5.00

All things considered, I'm happy with this race.

I drove to Toronto Friday afternoon - a 4 hour drive.  Picked up my kit and then took the subway to the Roger's Center for a Blue Jays vs. Red Sox game.  Wow - did THAT suck!  13 - 3 drubbing by Boston.  Ouch!

My supper:  a footlong hotdog, with 4 beer and a few cups of coffee interspersed at the ballpark.  I don't normally drink that much beer, but to understand why, reference the paragraph above re: the ball game.

Anyway, it was a sleepless night.  Long ride, sucky game, really bad dinner and too much on my mind.

I was up early to drive to the subway and then ride down to the start line.  Quite humid.  Temperature was 21C/70F at start time, with 81% humidity and a humidex factor of 27C/81F.

I positioned myself close to the start, and we were off.  It's a challenging course.  Start and finish at the same place, but a 115 foot elevation change along the way.

The major downhill portion was mile 1, and I ran a 6:13.  Then some up and downs where I ran a 6:52.  Then the inevitable up:  the fourth kilometer took back the 115 feet all at once.  I ran the 3rd mile in 7:04.  The final kick for the last half lap was done in 5:54.

So, a decent enough time for me under those conditions.  9th place out of 428 runners.  I think the worst part was the drive home right after.  Oh, my poor hamstrings!

NEW INFORMATION!  I was just re-checking the official results - I not only won my age division, but I also came in 1st in the Master's Division!  Cool.  I won a $300 gift certificate at The Running Room and a free entry into next year's race.  :)  Other than a couple of little trophies, I've never won a prize for running before - maybe I should drink more beer???  :)

Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 169.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
43.00
Saucony ISO Triumph Miles: 7.00Brooks Ghost 6 Gold Miles: 20.00Zoom Vomero 10 Miles: 11.00Skechers GoRun4 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 160.75
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